Joy because it presents the optimism of spring. Curse because there is a notion anything that happens in exhibition games matters.

Both sentiments are understandable. It’s cold in this state. The snow fall, especially this winter, seems endless. Baseball represents warm days and summer nights. There is nothing like the palm trees of Lakeland swaying in the background as the wind blows in off Lake Parker as reminder. There are many wonderful sights and sites in sports, but none tops Joker Marchant Stadium during February and March. Not if you’re from the State of Michigan and a baseball fan, anyway.

The sound of the bat and pop of the catcher’s mitt on the radio broadcasts is especially appealing.

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It makes it difficult not to think the action on the sunbaked diamonds is meaningful, but it isn’t.

Last spring was a classic example. Remember how we were hit with a barrage of stories about how struggling Tigers’ pitcher Anibal Sanchez had “tweaked” his delivery and therefore “cured.”

And how Jacoby Jones raked in a couple games, made a couple nice plays and it was, “Man, this guy might be the Tigers’ center fielder for 10 years...’’

The Tigers last won the World Series in 1984. They were 11-17 that spring and made an alarming number of errors, which dominated the reports sent back home in the era before the internet. The Tigers started out the regular season 35-5.

This spring could be more interesting than most from the standpoint the Tigers are in total rebuilding mode and have more legitimate prospects than in the recent past.

When Christin Stewart, a powerful, left-handed hitting outfielder, who will begin this season at Triple-A Toledo, steps to the plate, it’s worth taking notice. It will be fun if he hits couple room service fastballs out of the park, but it doesn’t mean he’ll make it big.

Some feel spring training lasts too long. I don’t think so because it’s necessary to get pitchers ready.

The freshness of spring training usually wears out about St. Patrick’s Day, though. Everybody gets a bit itchy for Opening Day.

There will be a couple stories of actual note in Lakeland this spring. What type of shape will Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera be in after subpar, ailment-plagued seasons? Will relief prospect Joe Jimenez and veteran starter Jordan Zimmermann regain their velocity? How will manager Ron Gardenhire approach fundamentals such as base running the Tigers have been so inept at the last decade?

But mostly, it will be hurry up and wait for Opening Day, which is unusually early this season, March 29 at Comerica Park against the Pirates.

It’s unique spring training is so memorable and forgettable at the same time.

Memorable for how we just can’t wait for its arrival.

Forgettable because nobody, really, recalls the results when it is complete.